all-inclusive

Plan the Perfect All-Inclusive Family Vacation this Winter with These 4 Tips

November 10, 2016 by Kathryn 32 Comments

I’ve always believed that travel provides endless enriching opportunities for both adults and children, so travel has always been a priority for my boys and me. From a simple road trip to an exotic cruise, we’ve had the chance to enjoy all kinds of adventures together. But one of my favourite travel getaways with my boys has always been a trip to an all-inclusive resort. I love the hassle-free experience of knowing all our food, drinks and entertainment are included with our stay, while still having ample opportunities to explore the local attractions on day trips and excursions.

But like any vacation, proper planning helps to turn a good vacation into a great one! And if you’re considering escaping the cold this winter on your own all-inclusive family getaway, these four tips will help ensure that your trip to one of the best all inclusive resorts is the best one ever!

Vacation with Friends

If you have close friends with kids, consider vacationing together as a group! Not only do extra people make the vacation more fun, but many resorts will offer a discount to larger groups. That means you save money, your kids have more friends to play with and you can plan extra activities like a ladies’ spa day or a big group breakfast get-together! Make sure to also check for special deals that allow kids to stay and eat for free to save even more money! [Read more…]

Family Fun Awaits at the Now Sapphire Riviera Cancun Resort in Mexico

January 16, 2016 by Kathryn 43 Comments

I’ve always been a wanderer at heart, and luckily I’ve been blessed with two boys that love to travel as much as I do. So when I had the chance to check out the Now Sapphire Riviera Cancun resort in Cancun, Mexico, I decided to give my boys the choice between a traditional Christmas present from their mom or coming on the trip with me as their gift. As I expected, both of them jumped at the chance to visit the Now Sapphire and shortly after Christmas we were on our way!

Choosing a resort that’s fun for both adults and children is never an easy task, and it’s often made harder when I travel with my boys since they both shun the idea of spending time in a Kid’s Club. But within minutes of arriving at the Now Sapphire resort, I knew that it was going to be perfect for all three of us. While I sipped the resort’s signature cocktail and checked into our room, the boys explored the gorgeous open lobby filled with picturesque fountains and plants. Then it was off to see our room and the rest of the resort.

Fun for Kids

Now Sapphire has no shortage of fun activities for kids and my boys tried almost all of them! The Bungee Trampoline is a must-experience for little ones and since it’s reserved for children at the Explorer’s Club, it makes attending a lot more appealing. The club also offers sandcastle competitions, big-screen movies on the beach and a playground so that parents can relax while kids enjoy supervised fun with trained caregivers. Open from 9am to 10pm every day, it’s the ideal way for kids and adults to both have a blast on vacation! [Read more…]

Ready to Indulge in a Now Resorts & Spas #ResortEscape at the Now Sapphire Riviera Cancun

March 21, 2014 by Kathryn 48 Comments

This post brought to you by Now Resorts & Spas. All opinions are 100% mine.

Near the end of January, I shared information about the four amazing Now Resorts & Spas properties in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. I needed advice about which resort to visit and all of my amazing readers were happy to oblige. I am so happy that everyone shared their opinions because I won a trip for two to the property of my choice as well as one to give away to a reader!

After plenty of deliberation, I decided to book my vacation to the Now Sapphire Riviera Cancun in Mexico. There were a few features that stood out to me about this gorgeous resort and I am so excited to experience it for myself. I have to admit, the fact that I'll be travelling without my boys was a key factor in my decision! Enjoying yoga on the beach and the huge variety of water sports such as kayaking, windsurfing and riding the waves on Hobie cats sounded too appealing to pass up. And I have a passionate love of Tappenyaki dining, so I can't wait to enjoy a lively gourmet meal at the Lemongrass restaurant!

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Making Lifelong Memories with Beaches Resorts and Sesame Street #BeachesMoms

March 4, 2014 by Kathryn 61 Comments

When my boys and I visited the Beaches Negril resort in Jamaica this past December, we had a first-hand look at what makes this destination so special. Tons of fun activities for kids and plenty of luxurious relaxation for parents is made even better by the company’s commitment to bettering the lives of the people in nearby communities through the Sandals Foundation. No wonder so many people choose a Beaches vacation when it’s time to travel!

sesame street beaches mardi gras — The Sesame Street characters in brand new Mardi Gras outfits to celebrate the ten-year partnership with Beaches Resorts!

boys big bird beaches resort — Benjamin was a little nervous about getting too close to Big Bird. He really is big!

But one of the other things that makes a Beaches Resorts vacation so magical is the company’s partnership with Sesame Street. The resorts are celebrating its ten-year anniversary of the partnership this year and when our family visited Beaches Negril, we saw first-hand just how many different ways there are for the Sesame Street characters to add to the magic of your child’s vacation.

nightly sesame street show — Daily activities and nightly shows featuring Sesame Street friends are included as part of the resort experience!

sesame street elmo beaches resort — Zackary and Benjamin having a little fun on the beach with Elmo!

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Beaches Resorts – Giving Back through the Sandals Foundation #BeachesMoms

February 5, 2014 by Kathryn 45 Comments

Recently my boys and I went on an amazing trip to the Beaches Negril resort in Jamaica. With Beaches Resorts’ passion for providing the ultimate all-inclusive experience to visitors, we enjoyed plenty of relaxing and fun-filled moments on the resort. But we also had a chance to see the difference that the company makes to the community through its philanthropic arm, the Sandals Foundation, and it was an experience that left me and my boys more touched than I could have expected.

sandals foundation christmas party presents — Zackary and Benjamin had lots of fun examining the tables full of presents when we arrived!

We travelled to the local Mount Airy School in the Mocho Mountains for the annual Sandals Foundation Christmas Party and to make the experience even more memorable, we had been given the opportunity to bring a wrapped gift to give to one of the schoolchildren at the party. I loved the idea of showing my boys how rewarding generosity could be, so I intentionally chose gifts that I knew each of them would love to have for themselves: Benjamin’s gift was a soft and cuddly teddy bear and Zackary’s was a LEGO set. I even brought a large Hello Kitty doll to give away myself and we were bursting with excitement when we arrived.

schoolroom st. airy school negril jamaica — The school consisted of a number of buildings that each housed different age groups in the single rooms.

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Choose Your Escape with an Unlimited-Luxury Vacation at Now Resorts & Spas #ResortEscape

January 29, 2014 by Kathryn 1,736 Comments

This post brought to you by Now Resorts & Spas. All opinions are 100% mine.

When it comes to a vacation that the whole family can enjoy, there’s just no better and simpler option than an all-inclusive resort. With activities for children and adults alike in gorgeous tropical locations, who wouldn't love indulging in some Family travel by visiting a luxury resort?

And nobody understands luxury better than Now Resorts & Spas! The company’s Unlimited-Luxury® style vacations offer included amenities such as gourmet, a la carte dining, unlimited premium beverages, child supervision at the Explorer Kids Club and Core Zone Teens Club and indulgent spa treatments at the Now Spa by Pevonia on every one of its four beautiful resorts. In fact, with special activities and amenities at each resort, choosing which property to visit is the biggest task you’ll face on your vacation!

The Now Jade Riviera Cancun resort is located in Riviera Maya, Mexico. It offers special events including a treasure hunt around the hotel that kids will love, a free kayak tour, live shows including “Idol” singing shows and deep sea diving in the gorgeous blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. With plenty of activities for all ages, it’s a great choice for families!

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Beaches Resorts – An Unforgettable Adventure for Adults #BeachesMoms

January 23, 2014 by Kathryn 60 Comments

I’ve mentioned that my boys are always in my mind when planning a vacation, but of course, I want to have fun too! So while activities for kids may be a big part of my consideration when travelling, I also want plenty of adult entertainment and activities. And on my family’s recent trip to Beaches Negril in beautiful Jamaica, I experienced the full scope of the more mature activities that the resort has to offer.

beaches negril pool — The beautiful Beaches Negril pool is always a favourite place for adults to relax!

Relax at the Spa

The luxurious Red Lane Spa is a haven for any parent that just needs to unwind. Featuring a full range of spa services including massages, facials, manicures, pedicures and more, it’s such a great way to enjoy a little pampering while the kids are having fun at Kids Camp! And for a little mom and daughter bonding, the Red Lane Spa has recently introduced the new Ginger Lily spa menu offering special parent/child spa treatments!

beaches negril red lane spa — The Red Lane Spa is so picturesque, just looking at it makes me feel more relaxed!

I had the chance to experience one of the new treatments for myself and since I knew I’d be heading back to harsh winter weather soon enough, I decided to indulge in the Front Porch Punch Shea Butter Massage. The mango, melon and strawberry scented Shea butter lotion left my skin so velvety smooth and the massage had me feeling even more relaxed than I had when I first stepped onto the resort. For a totally sensual treat, a trip to the Red Lane Spa is an absolute must when at a Beaches Resort!

beaches negril towels — Everything at the Beaches Negril resort features these special extra touches…even the towels at the spa and in the rooms!

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Beaches Resorts – The Ultimate Vacation Experience for Kids

January 10, 2014 by Kathryn 72 Comments

When I’m planning a vacation, my boys are always at the front of my mind. I want our experiences to be ones that they can embrace…ones that will create memories to last their entire lives. Recently Beaches Resorts invited my family to the Beaches Negril resort in Jamaica to give us a first-hand look at what Beaches has to offer. And within minutes of arriving, I could tell that a Beaches vacation would be any child’s dream come true!

beaches resort negril jamaica boys elmo — My boys were so excited to meet Elmo at Beaches Negril!

Family Fun

So what makes a Beaches vacation such an ideal choice for children? It starts with the variety of family activities that give parents a chance to bond with their kids in amazing ways. And because the company believes in innovation, it is constantly offering new options that are sure to delight children and parents alike.

One of the newest events at Beaches Negril is the Sesame Street Carnival Celebration parade in celebration of the ten-year partnership between Beaches and Sesame Street. Featuring all the favourite Sesame Street characters in beautifully elaborate Carnival costumes, it’s sure to be magical experience. We had the chance to see the parade just minutes after arriving at the resort, and I couldn’t help but grin when I saw Oscar the Grouch’s flag made of an old sock on stick!

sesame street carnival celebration beaches negril — The costumes of the Sesame Street characters were so elaborate!

stilt walkers beaches negril resort — Zackary had a blast watching the parade with the stilt walkers!

Also new to the resort this year is the Pop-Up Adventure Playground, a unique play concept that encourages child-directed play through the use of kid-friendly objects. As a huge believer in the importance of learning through play, this concept was one that resonated especially well with me. With nothing more than a pile of different materials and a ton of imagination, kids were creating everything from toy pirates to airplanes to placemats and having a great time doing it. My boys walked away from the Pop-Up Adventure Playground with an armload of crafts that they couldn’t wait to show off to family back home.

pop-up adventure playground beaches negril — Benjamin and I had lots of fun making crafts together at the Pop-Up Adventure Playground!

boys at beaches pop-up adventure playground — I loved watching my boys collaborate to create something amazing!

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